Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles occurred on 28 June 1919 in the Palace of Versailles in France when the Allied Powers and Germany (representing the defunct Central Powers) signed a treaty that formally put an end to World War I (which had been ended by a ceasefire on 11 November 1918). The treaty forced Germany to accept that the German Empire was responsible for the war and suffer the consequences; the Imperial German Army was forced to disarm, large portions of the former empire would be given away (Poland and the Baltic states would be given independence, while Germany's Pacific and African colonies would be given to other empires as "mandates"), Germany would pay $442,000,000,000 in war reparations, and occupation forces would be stationed in Germany. The treaty left neither side contented, as the treaty destroyed Germany's empire and weakened its economy, while some Allied leaders believed that the treaty was too lenient. Embarrassment caused by the treaty led to a rise in German nationalism, and the Nazi Party swore to avenge the defeat in World War I by making Germany great again.